Zakirin
The dawn of Maranello’s EV era shatters auction records at Monterey Car Week.
The most polarizing vehicle in Maranello’s storied history has just silenced its critics with the resounding bang of an auction hammer. Chassis No. 0 of the Ferrari Luce—the iconic Italian marque’s very first series-production electric vehicle—has sold for an astonishing RM 163.4 million ($40 million USD) at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey Car Week auction.
For a car that sparked intense debate among the tifosi before its wheels even hit the road, this record-breaking sale proves one undeniable truth: history has an incredible premium, and elite collectors are more than willing to pay it. The final bid landed at roughly forty times the pre-sale estimate of RM 4.5 million ($1.1 million USD), instantly cementing the Luce’s status as automotive royalty.
A Charitable Milestone
Every sen of the breathtaking RM 163.4 million hammer price will go directly to The Ferrari Foundation, supporting educational initiatives in the automaker’s home community. The staggering sum easily eclipsed other notable headline sales during Monterey Car Week, including a striking Ferrari Daytona SP3 that changed hands for a comparatively modest RM 72.7 million ($17.8 million USD).
As automotive analysts noted following the auction: “Chassis 0 was never really about the powertrain. It was about being first, being charitable, and being unrepeatable. The market has just spoken in the loudest possible voice that the first Luce is treated as a genuine piece of Ferrari history.”
What the Buyer Takes Home
The new owner of Chassis 0 isn’t just acquiring an electric vehicle; they are taking delivery of the definitive reference model. This exact car wears a bespoke Tailor Made specification finished in Madreperla semi-gloss—a stunning mother-of-pearl white with iridescent reflections, perfectly matched by its unique wheels and brake calipers.
Stepping through its innovative coach doors into the cabin, the interior is upholstered in premium Perla Le Mans leather accented with Grigio Corvara details. A special commemorative plaque sits proudly on display, confirming its provenance as the very first production electric Ferrari.
The Powertrain that Shocked the World
Beneath the elegant 5-door liftback saloon body lies the architecture that divided traditional enthusiasts. Free from the visceral roar of a V12, the Luce utilizes an advanced 800V architecture housing a structural 122-kWh battery. Power is delivered through four independent permanent-magnet electric motors—one positioned at each wheel.
Quick Specs:
- Power Output: 1,050 cv (1,035 hp)
- Torque: 7,750 Nm at the wheels
- 0 – 100 km/h: 2.5 seconds
- Top Speed: 310 km/h
- Estimated Range: Over 530 km (WLTP)
Despite being an executive five-seater weighing 2,260 kg, its performance figures are unequivocally Ferrari. To preserve the emotional connection expected of the Prancing Horse, Ferrari engineers integrated an innovative acoustic system. It captures natural frequencies from the rear axle’s rotating components, equalizing and amplifying them into the cabin—much like an electric guitar.
A New Era for the Prancing Horse
While the base price for a standard Ferrari Luce will start at approximately RM 2.61 million ($640,000 USD), Chassis 0 represents a unique moment in time. The RM 163.4 million closing bid signals that regardless of what powers the wheels, a “first-of-its-kind” Ferrari commands absolute respect and unparalleled value in the collector market.
Whether you embrace the silent electric future or mourn the traditional combustion engine, the Ferrari Luce has already written itself into the record books. The electric era in Maranello has officially arrived, and it is worth its weight in gold.
